Back to School Pics.......Check!

6 days away from 3rd GRADE!!!!!!

I cant believe in just 6 days I will have a 3rd grader! Ava has grown so much just in the last 2 months that its hard to imagine how quickly she will change in the next school year. I am eager for school to start back so she gets back into a routine of some sort. The last few months have been crazy and we're all ready to be back in the swing of a "normal routine". 

Anyone that knows me well, knows with absolute certainty, the photographs are one of my most favorite "things" ever. I love having updated photos and DRAG my family multiple times a year to get new family photos done. I don't have to "drag"so much anymore per se, because they both know, I WILL get the photos done and I will NOT lose this battle. Make momma happy! When we aren't doing family shoots, I have pictures done of Ava for every holiday, every event and anything that pops up in between. "Oh wow, ANOTHER picture of Ava".......not sure how many times I've heard that one. I cant help it. Its my thing, my niche, my addiction, my obsession.......I LOVE it. 

I love the comparison from year to year. I love to see the subtle changes only a parent would see. I love being able to quickly pull a folder from each "event" if I need to and have pleasant reminders of how we were celebrating through photography. 

Back to school pictures are one of my favorite shoots! This is the perfect way to document the beginning of a new year. If I only had the standard "school photo" I've never be satisfied. That being said, Kindergarten, 1st and 2nd grade we lived in good ole' Chesapeake and had access to amazing photographer friends who made sure I got great photos of my baby girl prior to her new year. This year is different. Not only are these ladies not here, but my husband who is the more technically gifted of the two of us,  who has always had an eye for photos is not here either!  

With rain coming in the forecast for Japan it was now or never. I dusted off the old camera and used the "spray and Pray" method in the auto setting and hoped that we would get at least a few shots I was happy with. 

My dear friend Jeannie came with us and even brought her camera ( i can't wait to see her photos too!!) to help me and provide moral support. She also makes a mean-dinner-date! We drove to Blue Street, thats what the locals call it even though its not the name at all. We looked for moderately clear paths in different areas to get a sense of a real Japanese Urban theme. The best part of doing photos like this is being able to explore and find new interesting things in the area while looking for cool natural backdrops to take photos. We all tried "street food" for the first time, found an awesome little paint shop and after eating at Red Door Ramen (again) stopped at a little dessert counter for macaroons and ice cream. Its so much easier to get photos of children without the cramp of a studio while they can walk and play. All in all I am satisfied with the pictures and happy that I didn't forget the battery, SD card or the camera itself! #winning. 

Hope you all like them!